BASILICA DI SANTA MARIA DELLA SALUTE
A remarkable baroque basilica, one of the most emblematic monuments of Venice.
Among the symbols of Venice is the silhouette of the Salute, which can be recognized from afar, from the open sea, thanks to its large dome surmounted by the statue of the Virgin, and its powerful volute buttresses. Located at the southern entrance of the Grand Canal, it was built by Baldassarre Longhena and his pupils between 1631 and 1687 (Longhena died in 1682). The basilica required the demolition of an already inhabited space. it took 56 years to build the basilica in order to give full thanks to the Virgin Mary for having freed the city from the terrible plague of 1630. Since then, on the day of the presentation of Mary in the temple, every November 21, the church has become a place of pilgrimage for the entire population. On this day, a bridge of boats is organized on the Grand Canal, allowing the crowd of faithful to reach the church on foot and light a candle.
Originally, 1,556,627 wooden posts were needed to support this imposing baroque church... Made of white Istrian stone and shaped like an octagonal crown, the basilica is enriched by a colossal dome whose top is topped by a statue of the Virgin holding a "sea captain" staff. A second dome is surmounted by the effigy of Saint Mark. The exterior is carved with motifs relating to the Virgin and her mission as protector of the city, while the interior, vast and luminous, is assembled in gray Florentine stone and supported by Palladian columns. The soft light that penetrates the openings delicately raises the tone of the marble of the polychrome pavement. A succession of arches directs the visitor's gaze to the high altar, sculpted by Juste le Court. Above, the icon of the Madonna of Salvation, which would have been painted by Saint Luke, stands. It is a black Madonna on a silver background, called the Mesopanditissa (mediator of peace), brought from Crete in 1670 by Francesco Morosini, who later held the office of doge.
The church, finally, is enriched with beautiful works by Bartolomeo Bon and Pietro Lombardo. Of particular interest are the paintings in the sacristy: several paintings by Titian (on the ceiling) and Tintoretto, including The Wedding at Cana (look at the first apostle on the left, it is Tintoretto himself!). Equally admirable are the works of Palma il Giovane(Samson and Jonah the prophet) and several Greco-Byzantine icons.